Threshold strip for sliding doors having replaceable bearing track

ABSTRACT

A threshold strip for sliding doors having bearing tracks for supporting and guiding the doors, the tracks being removable and replaceable.

Ilite its Sheat Dec. 24, 1974 THRESHOLD STRIP FOR SLIDING DOORS HAVINGREPLACEABLE BEARING TRACK [75] Inventor: James E. Sheaf, Obetz, Ohio[73] Assignee: Rollyson Aluminum Products,

Sheridan, Ohio 221 Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 406,142

[52] US. Cl 49/425, 16/96, 160/201 [51] Int. Cl E05d 13/02 [58] Field ofSearch 49/425 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,788,0974/1957 Frick 49/425 3,530,618 9/1970 Grossman 49/425 X FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 263,308 7/1968 Austria 49/425 Primary Examiner-KennethDowney Attorney, Agent, or FirmMahoney, Miller & Stebens [57] ABSTRACT Athreshold strip for sliding doors having bearing tracks for supportingand guiding the doors, the tracks being removable and replaceable.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEB24|974 3,855,732

sum 10; 2

THRESHOLD STRIP FOR SLIDING DOORS HAVING REPLACEABLE BEARING TRACKBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to thethreshold strip usually provided for supporting sliding doors. Thisthreshold strip is usually in the form of an aluminum extrusion. Itincludes one or more upstanding ribs which serve as bearing orsupporting tracks for the sliding doors. The doors are usually providedwith grooves in the lower edges which fit downwardly over these bearingtracks and are commonly provided with rollers which operate thereon. Thetracks are normally made as integral parts of the threshold stripextrusion. When these tracks become worn from use or are damaged, it isnecessary to replace the entire threshold strip, which is quiteexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the necessityof replacing the entire threshold strip upon wear or damage of thebearing track or tracks thereof by providing a track portion which isformed as a separate extrusion and which fits into a groove in the bodyof the threshold strip. The fit is a frictional fit which effectivelyholds the track in position but which permits ready removal thereof andreplacement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The best mode contemplated in carryingout this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing sliding doors mounted on athreshold strip formed according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partly in perspective and partly in sectiontaken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the threshold strip showing thebearing track mounted therein.

FIG. 4 is a similar view but showing the track removed from thethreshold strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. ll of the drawings thereis illustrated a sliding door unit to which this invention isapplicable. This unit consists of the pair of sliding doors l1 and 12which are slidably mounted in a door frame 13 that includes thethreshold strip 10. The threshold strip is formed in accordance with theprinciples of this invention to include the removable tracks 16 forslidably supporting the respective doors I1 and 12. Each of the doorshas a downwardly opening guide groove 18 in its lower edge which fitsover the respective track. As indicated in FIG. 2 with respect to thedoor 11, each of the doors is also usually provided with a plurality ofgrooved roller units 19 which engage and roll on the respective tracks16.

The threshold strip 10 is preferably extruded from aluminum but may beextruded from other material or otherwise formed. According to thisinvention it is provided with an upwardly opening longitudinallyextending track-receiving groove 20 which has a curved bottom 21. Thetrack 16 is adapted to cooperate with this groove and is preferablyformed with a body extruded from aluminum, or otherwise formed, and acooperating non-metallic channel 22. The body of the track 16 includes adepending tongue 23 having a curved lower edge 24. The tongue 23 dependsbelow outwardly extending support flanges 25. The upper edge of the bodyof the track is provided with a bearing rail or rib 26 which ispreferably convexly curved transversely. The non-metallic channel 22 ispreferably extruded from rigid vinyl although it may be of othernon-metallic materials. The tongue 23, with the channel 22 slippedthereon, is adapted to fit snugly into the groove 20 in the thresholdstrip and to be retained therein by frictional contact. The relativedimensions may be such that the member 22 is slightly compressed uponinsertion of the track assembly into the groove. The lower edge of thetongue 23, the bottom side of the channel 22 and the bottom of groove 21are of complemental transverse curvatures.

When the track assembly is inserted in the groove 20, the supportingflanges 25 will engage the upper flat surfaces 28 of the strip 10 ateach side of the groove 20, as indicated in FIG. 3. This will supportthe weight of the door and prevent undue compression on the nonmetallicchannel 22. The supporting portion of the track will project upwardlyfrom the surface 28 so that the transversely curved bearing rail 26 willthereby be located at a level above the surfaces 28 of the thresholdstrip 10 to receive and support the grooved roller units 19.

Whenever either of the tracks 16 become unduly worn or damaged, it ismerely necessary to pull the assembly upwardly from the groove 20 in thethreshold strip and replace it with a new assembly. Since the trackassembly is a separate unit, it may be removed and replaced at a muchlower cost than the replacement of the entire threshold strip 10 as inthe prior art. The non-metallic channel 22 which receives the tongue 23will prevent welding or sticking of the two metal members if they werein direct contact. In fact, the plastic channel 22 actually provides aseal between the tongue and groove to prevent entrance of moisture ordirt.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A thresholdstrip for supporting a sliding door comprising a longitudinallyextending body with side edges having a longitudinally extendingupwardlyopening track-receiving groove formed therein intermediate theside edges, a track removably mounted on said body, a longitudinallyextending depending tongue on said track so shaped relative to thegroove that it can be slipped downwardly into the groove to be retainedtherein by friction or be withdrawn upwardly out of the groove forremoval, a longitudinally extending support portion on said track abovesaid tongue with a longitudinally extending bearing surface at its upperedge, in which the groove is of substantially U-form in transversecross-section and the depending tongue is of cooperating similarcross-section so that it can be slipped downwardly into the groove or bepulled upwardly therefrom, and including longitudinally extendingsupport flanges on the track at a level between the depending tongue andthe support portion and extending laterally outwardly in oppositedirections to provide support surfaces which rest on the strip body atopposite sides of the groove therein.

2. A threshold strip according to claim 1 in which said threshold stripand track are both of metal and in which said flanges have their supportsurfaces located at a selected level so that the lower edge of thetongue will not contact with the bottom of the groove when said supportsurfaces engage the body and said tongue being of a width less than thatof the groove to provide a U-shape space between the tongue and thegroove, and a non-metallic channel member in said U-shape space fittingupwardly around the depending tongue beneath said support flanges andengaging the sides and bottom of the groove.

3. A threshold strip according to claim 2 in which the removable trackis a metal extrusion with the support

1. A threshold strip for supporting a sliding door comprising alongitudinally extending body with side edges having a longitudinallyextending upwardly-opening track-receiving groove formed thereinintermediate the side edges, a track removably mounted on said body, alongitudinally extending depending tongue on said track so shapedrelative to the groove that it can be slipped downwardly into the grooveto be retained therein by friction or be withdrawn upwardly out of thegroove for removal, a longitudinally extending support portion on saidtrack above said tongue with a longitudinally extending bearing surfaceat its upper edge, in which the groove is of substantially U-form intransverse cross-section and the depending tongue is of cooperatingsimilar cross-section so that it can be slipped downwardly into thegroove or be pulled upwardly therefrom, and including longitudinallyextending support flanges on the track at a level between the dependingtongue and the support portion and extending laterally outwardly inopposite directions to provide support surfaces which rest on the stripbody at opposite sides of the groove therein.
 2. A threshold stripaccording to claim 1 in which said threshold strip and track are both ofmetal and in which said flanges have their support surfaces located at aselected level so that the lower edge of the tongue will not contactwith the bottom of the groove when said support surfaces engage the bodyand said tongue being of a width less than that of the groove to providea U-shape space between the tongue and the groove, and a non-metallicchannel member in said U-shape space fitting upwardly around thedepending tongue beneath said support flanges and engaging the sides andbottom of the groove.
 3. A threshold strip according to claim 2 in whichthe removable track is a metal extrusion with the support portion havingthe bearing surface provided by a rib at its upper edge which projectslaterally outwardly from the support portion, said flanges being alsoformed on said support portion and laterally projecting therefrom at alevel below said rib.
 4. In combination with the threshold strip ofclaim 3, a door slidably mounted thereon by means including supportrollers which rest on said bearing rib, said rollers being grooved andfitTing over a transversely curved upper edge on said rib.